International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, Vol. 6, No. 6, June 2016 Public Space in the Image of Barcelona in Post-Dictatorship Period İdil Ayral Sürer the future of a city always has its roots in its past. Therefore, Abstract—By collapse of dictatorship of Franco, Spain and as public space, as in urban transformation of Barcelona, is an autonomous community, Catalonia has started a process of regenerated by politics and economy as well as architects, reestablishment in politics, economy and culture which also urbanists, designers, artists, media, newspapers, tradition and reflected in urban development of Barcelona. As from 1980s, the city was regenerated around a series of projects, eventually culture of the society. becoming one of the most outstanding, cosmopolitan places The image of the city of Barcelona can be examined within worldwide. Public space was one of the fundamentals of the new the context of public space since it has been one of the main urban design approach and important events as 1992 Olympic components of its urban development especially as from Games and 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures were 1980s, by contribution of important urban actors as mayor instrumental in the creation of more spaces in order to make a Pasqual Maragall, who admits that “youngsters shouldn't contribution to collective life in Barcelona. Thus, this paper aims to define the notion of public space in the image of the city, and grow up in a meaningless landscape” and urbanist-architect afterwards, to explain the urban transformation of Barcelona in Oriol Bohigas, basing his urban projects around the principle post-dictatorship period, briefly mentioning some projects and that public space is “the city”. Today, the city simply could be urban actors, as architect-urbanist Oriol Bohigas who had a called as “alive” with numerous inhabitants taking advantage significant role in urban regeneration of the city. of leisure activities, festivals, street parties, celebrations throughout all seasons and all hours of the day in public space Index Terms—Barcelona, contemporary history, public space, which is a fundamental element in Barcelonian way of living. urbanism, urban history. Thus my aim here is threefold: First, to consider the importance of the concept of “public space” in the image of I. INTRODUCTION the city, second to explain the urban transformation of Barcelona in 80s and after, especially focusing on the Barcelona is a very important city that provides an regeneration of its public space, and third, refer to significant excellent case study of many of the major themes of urban role of Oriol Bohigas as an urban actor of this period of urban development, especially within the context of its renaissance and regeneration in the city of Barcelona. contemporary history, as from 1980s, when dictatorship of Franco collapsed. In Spain, a political reconstruction has begun which meant for Catalonia, the re-establishment of II. PUBLIC SPACE IN THE IMAGE OF THE CITY Catalan parliament and the relationship between central The city as a living organism, is a developing, changing, government and regional autonomous communities. With a enlarging, reshaping and a regenerating structure. Urban or metropolitan vision, Barcelona achieved to act as a cultural, public space, as a vital component of this structure, is a political, economic and intellectual core of Catalonia [1] product interpreted by the perception of humankind under eventually becoming an outstanding, cosmopolitan city. various circumstances. Open space or public space, with purposes of open air The notion of “public space” can be considered as an activities, enjoying a contact with nature or urban enclosed area used by community such as a park, a garden, an environment and surrounding architecture, understanding the urban landscape or a square in which people are directly city as a place of collective life and a monument to be involved by social actions. In spite of being used in a more preserved, being a mirror of collective history, has been a animated and temporary way, urban connectors as streets, fundamental issue in Barcelona’s urban development, axes and promenades can be also included in this notion. eventually maintaining a strong identity and image. By Francis defines it as “the common ground where civility and considering urban diversity and homogeneity, urban our collective sense of what may be called 'publicness' are innovation with attention to urban fabric of historical developed and expressed.” [3] as it is one of the prominent buildings, by redefining the relations between urban planning elements in a cultural system through which public and action [2], public space of Barcelona succeeded in communicates, experiences and explores. It serves as an icon, developing a remarkable urban quality. a meaningful component that reflects the identity of the The form of a public space is important as it defines the society as well as being the most powerful visual connection political contents of a city, reflecting its past and present, and between land, buildings and human. There are multiple dimensions of public space: It is a social Manuscript received January 3, 2015; revised March 5, 2015. İdil Ayral Sürer is with the Institute of History Jaume Vicens i Vives relationship, a product to be used and consumed by tourism (Institut Universitari d'Història Jaume Vicens i Vives) of Pompeu Fabra and leisure activities as meeting, strolling or formal University (Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain (e-mail: gatherings, festivals and celebrations. It is serves as a tool of [email protected]). DOI: 10.7763/IJSSH.2016.V6.688 446 International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, Vol. 6, No. 6, June 2016 thought and action, along with being a means of control, Within the urban fabric, urban landscapes, parks, gardens, domination, power [4]. It is a vehicle that expresses social collective open areas, squares make a major contribution to tensions and consequently, works of architects and urban the image of the city by giving physical and social continuity developers turns into a space of social vehemence. In to urban character. Barcelona is formed on this basis of urban democratic political systems, civil society can make use of continuity as Parc de la Ciutadella and Montjuïc act as public space for purposes of expression whereas in connections between the coast and inner parts of the city undemocratic regimes, the state gains a practical and whereas belt of sub-urban parks as Park Güell and Parc del symbolic control over society by preventing civil Guinardó provides the continuity in inland suburbs of the city. mobilization [5] even though it is a constitutional right. As an Without the contribution of urban open areas, the city would example, like many authoritarian regimes, during dictatorship have been a set of buildings connected with ever-lengthening of Franco in Spain, in 1940s and later, activities in public roads. Similarly, design approach of Ildefons Cerdà in space, even a conversation between more than three people Eixample, with large square blocks (mançana) with open was prohibited. garden space in the middle (pati), was based on urban The relation between user and space designed for collective continuity and collective usage as these inner gardens were use is constructed through visual, physical and symbolic accessible from the street. access. For instance, a square, designed as an outdoor public The formation of urban fabric in relation with public spaces room to enhance the surrounding architecture, is perceived and green areas shouldn't be understood as filling the gaps in through emotions and memories attached to that space. As the city in order to create a continuous urban character. Bohr says: “Isn’t it strange how Kronberg Castle changes as Conversely, it means that urban morphology is formed by the soon as one imagines that Hamlet lived here?.. Suddenly the landscape features so that the city should be designed on the walls and ramparts speak a quite different language..” [6]. basis of its public spaces and urban landscape. In other words, Moreover, the sense of belonging to a city is constructed from public spaces as urban landscapes, parks, gardens, squares individual and collective experiences in public spaces which should be taken as the main focus on urban development and forms an individual and collective memory, strengthening city growth since they are the definitive elements of the city's perception of public life and the culture of living together. language. Civic participation in the production of an urban image through production of social place also creates a sense of belonging, social solidarity, civic pride and loyalty to that III. URBAN TRANSFORMATION OF CONTEMPORARY place [7]. In Barcelona, based on the frequent usage of public BARCELONA space -as a tradition common to Mediterranean countries- and Throughout its history, Barcelona has gone through its integration into social and urban life (Fig. 1), the different stages of urban transformation. Starting from inhabitants are constantly in touch with their city and its Cerdà’s plan for a new expansion of the city in the mid 19th monuments which also create a sense of common property century, Eixample, the urban fabric of the city transformed by and consciousness to respect and protect the values of it. political, economical or cultural changes as Universal Exposition in 1888 (Exposició Universal de Barcelona), International Exposition in 1929 (Exposició Internacional de Barcelona), the strong wave of immigration during 1920s, Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and dictatorship of Francisco Franco from 1939 until 1975. In Post-Franco period, with the transition to democracy and recovery of the City Council (Ajuntament) in 1979, the city has experienced a profound process of urban renewal, followed by the 1992 Olympic Games (Jocs Olímpics de la XXV Olimpíada) and 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures (Fòrum Universal de les Cultures), revealing the image of today’s Barcelona which Fig.